Lewis Hamilton holds fort to win F1 Chinese GP sprint race after resisting pressure, with Oscar Piastri was P2 and Max Verstappen in P3.
It was a clean start in F1 Chinese GP sprint after Pirelli increased tyre pressure to match the track temperature. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton maintained the lead from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who was being chased by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
But the Monegasque lost out to Mercedes’ George Russell who made the dive on the long straight to take fourth. The Brit initially had McLaren’s Lando Norris hustling him for few corners, but he had a wide moment which dropped him to outside the points in ninth.
Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda made the most of this after a good start to sixth from Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who dropped behind him. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was in points in eighth ahead of Norris, with the other Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso in Top 10.
Williams’ Alexander Albon was 11th after dropping out. While the battle in the front steadied a bit, the fight outside the points was heavy. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson made the pass on Alpine’s Jack Doohan at the back, but made contact at the exit of the long straight which required an investigation.
He was cleared as he brought himself on the back of the fighting Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto. The Frenchman managed to pass the Brazilian, as did the Kiwi. In fact, Hadjar tried to clear Alpine’s Pierre Gasly ahead, which he did but the experienced driver got him back.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, pitted to change tyres in an unusual step in a sprint race. At the front, Verstappen tried to chase Hamilton for couple of laps before dropping out, which brought Piastri in the game. He eventually made it through with four laps remaining to second.
There was gap to Russell, who had Leclerc on his tail, with Tsunoda being chased by Antonelli and Stroll getting Norris in his wing mirrors. The Brit managed to get through for eighth. At the front, Hamilton had enough gap of 6.889s to win the F1 sprint in Chinese GP – his first with Ferrari.
Piastri was second from Verstappen, who almost fell into the clutches of Russell. The Brit had to defend from Leclerc, who tried a couple of times but didn’t manage to. Tsunoda hung on to sixth from Antonelli, who had Norris on his tail at the end, with the Brit scoring the final point.
Stroll and Alonso missed out on points, with battles continuing on outside the points places. There was late contact when Alpine’s Jack Doohan tried to pass Bortoleto and Haas’ Oliver Bearman in the hairpin. It allowed Sainz and Hulkenberg through to 17th and 19th, with the Brazilian in 18th.
UPDATE: After the FIA stewards noted Doohan to be partly blamed in the incident with Lawson, where both were cleared of any penalty, the Australian did not escape the second time. He was handed a 10s time penalty with two penalty points for the late collision.
He made a move on Bortoleto at the hairpin but locked-up and spun the Brazilian around, who was chasing Ocon and Bearman. The Australian had Hulkenberg behind along with Sainz. The stewards reckon Doohan had full responsibility when making a move.
Considering how hot he came through in the corner, he should have backed-off but continued on to collide, which is why he is wholly to be blamed. Doohan limped to the line last and will have 10s added to his time, which doesn’t change the overall results.
Here’s full decision: https://x.com/fia/status/1903322596868800875
